Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20

Interesting and Newell Tests By . Sci
enttfic Investigator.

Nas " Ss AsSAA0uVSS W ulS C1ICIul E9cIVHIlOuS
ana happy generalizations. has made himself the
representative OF the growing science OF compara-
i've psycnology. Dr.. Romanes has made an I'M
portant study on the method by which his dog
loiiows the scent OF the master. The observations
were made on Dr.. Romanes setter bitch, an ami
NAL very much attached to him. They were made
on the grounds adjoining his house, and number
OF precautions not easily described were taken.
l. When Dr.. ROmanes walks over the ground
Win MS hunting boots on, the dog follows the
scent with the greatest readiness 2 II she Is put
TO the track OF stranger she pays attention to
H. 8. The dog was led into the room when prepar-
atoms were going on for an outing. but instead OF
scent he follows next alter that Of Dr. Romanesl
went; when set free the animal at first followed
with the gamekeeper, returned. 4. The next ex-
Pate IN Was nsia very ingenious one Twelve men
crate OF olfactory IMPRESSIONS DR.. Ronanes
headed Ihe company, so that the traces OF
as alter IsknS thus BE Ws MOST 1s an
hrst SIX men walked In one direction, the
last last. six ;so in another The dog quickly ran
shot the point or division, but soon returned
and followed the direction taken by the six headed
were made to ascertain what part OF Dr. Romanes'
person OF OF his apparel gave the clue to the ami
NAL II was suspected to be the hunting boots,
and this proved correct. a stranger put on these
boots. and the dog eagerly followed the SCENT and
contranwse. when i, DR. Romanes put on the
strangers boots the animal was Indifferent TO his
track 4 turther experiments were made TO To-
cate the source OF the scent In the boots The dog
dld not follow the scent OF a stranger walking in
bare Ieet. g. When DIR. ROmaneS walked in bare
feet the dog followed the trace but less eagerly
taan u,uul, and with much hesitation. y. Again.
tire animal did not follow Dr. Romanes when he
put on new shooting boots. 10. Next single
sheet OF brown paper was glued to the SoleS OF
his usual hunting boots. Tie dog did not catch
Romanes had previously i noted few SQUARE mil
hmeters OF the paper had come OF. II. When her
master walked In new cotton SOCKS the trail was
lazily followed, and soon given up. With WOODEN
socks worn all day the result was the same. II.
DR.. RonaneS next walked so yards in shooting
ooots then 300 yards in his stocking soles, carry
Ing his boots; then 300 yards In his bare feet. The
animal caught the scent and followed 1t unhes-
tatingly through the whole distance, though the
trace left by stockings or bare feet alone was not
sufficient . guide the animal. IL The next test
was modification OF the last. Dr. ROmanes and
stranger entered carriage and drove for several
then alighted and walked 80 yards. whereupon he
re-entered the carriage, and the stranger walked
the next 200 Yards; The dog, when shown the
ms. The experiment was repeated with another
stranger with the same result II. TO test the
pow er which the dog had OF selecting the diSt1nc-
tive odor accompanying her master from otner
odoiA Dr. komanes soaked his hunting boots in
anseSeed Oil. The Odor was so strong that friend
coll follow the track an hour later by the OdOr VI
the Gil; yet the dog was not confused except that
She heSitated about the first lew steps, but then
pursued as usual
The next test was directed toward ascertaining
whether the animal could distinguish her master
by odorS emanating from other portions OF his per-
SON. 10. J)r. Romanes, after pursuing ZisZag
course Just troddtn over BY number OF footsteps,
hid behind wall, with his eyes just visible. he
animal went ut once to the hiding place 16.
Again, he hid in Il ditch, with Only the top OF his
head visible. AT 200 yards the dog detected her
master, and went TO HIN directly.
From these tests, Dr. Romanes concludes that
the dog distinguishes him from all others by the
odor OF his boots do, and does hot distinguish
him In his naked feet SID. The odOr Is probably
emitted By the feet, but must Ue mixed with that
OF shoe leather 10 be or service To the dog. This is
doubtless Il matter OF euucatiOn; had the dog been
USED TO following her master when without SHOES
tne animal would nave learned to follow him
thus. The characteristic odUr cannot penetrate a
sheet OF brown paper, but a few square MILL
meters OF surface Is sufficient to give the dog the
clue. The animal IS ready to be- guided by INFER
ence as well as by perception, but the Inference
is instantaneous az and ID as compared with 2, g.
and III. Lastly, not only the 1eeL Through the
boots, but the whole body emitS an Odor that the
dog can distinguish III mass OF others 90. This
Odor Is recognized at great distances to windward
Qol, OF In calm weather in any direction Q6); IL is
not ovorpowered by aniseSeed oil 90 Or by the
footprints OF another a..